Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Open Space Strategy

(working draft for public consultation)

July 2009

The purpose of this draft is to;

 Outline the key elements of the Open Space Strategy to cover a 10 year period  Formalise the commitment to providing an Open Space Strategy  Allow the Council to consult with all interested parties

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Contents

Executive summary

Section 1 Introduction Why is green space important? Why an Open Space Strategy is Required What is Open Space in Welwyn Hatfield? Local features and Demographics

Section 2 Strategic Context National Policies and Initiatives Regional Policies and Initiatives Local Strategies, Policies and Initiatives Local Development Framework Other Strategic Documents

Section 3 PPG17 Audit, Consultation and Visioning

Section 4 Types of Open Space and Associated Actions

Parks and Gardens Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space Green Corridors Amenity Green Space Outdoor Sports Facilities Provision of Children and Young People Civic spaces Allotments and Community Gardens Cemeteries and Churchyards

Appendices. Appendix 1 Other national policies and strategies Appendix 2 Local Nature Reserves Survey Appendix 3 “You and Your Open Space” Consultation

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Executive Summary

An Open Space Strategy will be an essential tool for us to assess the contribution open space already makes in the Borough and focus our resources on enhancing this provision. It is also required by National Planning Policy.

National Planning Policy is discussed in documents that present ideas, the booklet “Green Spaces, Better Places” published in 2006 is the introductory text to the topic of Open Space. Actual policy is enacted through Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) notes and in this case, the relevant guidance note is PPG17.

The Council has already undertaken the first strand of PPG17, a major piece of work called “An Assessment of Welwyn Hatfield’s Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation” (March 2009). This Audit looked at all open space in the Borough, regardless of ownership.

Some of the research from the Audit has been used in this second requirement of PPG17, an Open Space Strategy. This document is solely concerned with the management of land the Council owns and manages. Therefore, the commentary, vision and objectives in this strategy relate directly to Council owned land.

The portfolio of open space owned and managed in the Borough is extensive and of fine quality. The planning history of Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield alone would ensure a legacy of notable open space but add to this the rural land holding that includes 195 hectares of nationally important woodland and it becomes clear that the Council has a significant responsibility to care for and seek to enhance a considerable resource.

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Section 1 Introduction

Why is Open Space Important?

Open Space is a vital element in creating and maintaining a balanced urban environment and is increasingly recognised as an essential ‘quality of life’ resource.

Open space provides a number of benefits within the urban fabric of our towns and offers significant opportunities to develop and enhance the social, recreational, environmental, educational and economic well being of the community.

Social

Open spaces can be used to provide safe places that are available to all to mix and socialise. They have the potential to engender a sense of community ownership and pride and create social cohesion. They are useful places to hold community events, voluntary activity and charitable fundraising. They can also be used to organise and allow people to participate in healthy outdoor activities.

Recreational

Open spaces are available to provide accessible recreation areas and activities as an alternative to leisure pursuits that cost money. They can be used for both formal and informal recreation and play. They offer young people a first hand experience of the natural world and can be used to stimulate and enhance child development through play.

Environmental

Open spaces and green corridors can provide a rich range of habitats for wildlife and aid local biodiversity. Green spaces can help us mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change. In particular trees are useful components in stabilising urban temperatures and humidity and open spaces can help in reducing flood risk.

Educational

Open spaces, especially Local Nature Reserves can aid the promotion and understanding of the natural world and can be used to demonstrate the virtues of sustainable development and health awareness.

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Economic

Open space, and in particular high quality green space, can add value to surrounding property, both commercial and residential thus increasing local tax revenues. They are often vital components of urban regeneration projects and in new developments, complementary open space and landscape features can further enhance value and encourage employment and inward investment. Quality open spaces also play a vital role in attracting visitors and tourists to the Borough.

Clearly, open space plays a major part in the health and well being of the Borough and a significant contribution to make to the “quality of life” of the residents of Welwyn Hatfield.

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Why is an Open Space Strategy Required?

Both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield were designed with a great deal of emphasis on open space and its importance in helping to create a thriving community. Existing features such as hedgerows and lanes, ponds, woodlands and veteran trees were retained and used to create open space, wildlife corridors and an immediate sense of place and many of these features still exist today.

The importance of the open space within the Borough and the contribution it makes to the health, wellbeing and identity of the Borough has been recognised and it is essential that the quality and quantity of open space, together with its accessible nature is maintained, and where appropriate, further enhanced. Open space can be Borough owned, but equally Parish, Town and County Councils manage open spaces, and many fine tracts of open land are in private ownership, all of which can also be enjoyed by the public.

This Open Space Strategy sets out the way in which the Council and its partners will ensure that open spaces owned and managed by the Borough are maintained and improved to ensure that they are safe, accessible and sustainable and continue to fulfil a range of functions that benefit the whole community. The strategy will outline the medium term objectives and key open space issues which need to be addressed over the next 10 years.

The principle aims and objectives of the Open Space Strategy are:

 To establish and communicate a clear vision for various types of open space.  To improve open space in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility.  To establish policy and prioritise future investment to address deficiencies associated with each type of open space.  To ensure the Borough’s open spaces meet the needs of the whole community.  To ensure open spaces enhance the quality of the local environment.  To provide clear policies for the provision and management of open space.  To involve the community in future maintenance and development.

For the future there is an emerging Strategy that examines all green space, regardless of ownership, that will promote a multi-functional green network in the Borough. This document, a “Green Infrastructure Strategy” is being supported by the Countryside Management Service, who are encouraging a County wide approach to this study.

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What is Open Space in Welwyn Hatfield?

Open space in the Borough is all that we perceive as part of our local environment when we are at home, at our workplaces, travelling from one place to another or visiting local parks, woodlands and play areas. Open space features include trees, hedgerows and shrub areas, close mown and meadow grassland, water features, play spaces (with fixed equipment and other spaces suitable for play) and sport pitches that have been formally provided. The nature of open space is diverse and in most instances an open space will include many of these key elements and features.

For the purpose of this Strategy and in line with the Council’s document called “An Assessment of Welwyn Hatfield’s Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation” ( March 2009) and in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 17, Open Space has been classified into nine open space typologies:

 Parks and Gardens  Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space  Green Corridors  Amenity Green Space  Outdoor Sports Facilities  Provision of Children and Young People  Civic spaces  Allotments and Community Gardens  Cemeteries and Churchyards

In this document in order to quantify the amount of open space in each typology an open space has only been recorded in one category despite the fact that it probably fulfils a number the functions defined in the nine typologies. The most obvious overlap is between Parks and Gardens and Outdoor Sports Facilities. Despite the fact that both King George V and Moneyhole open space in Welwyn Garden City are enjoyed as parks by many people, their predominant function for the purposes of the Assessment is as an Outdoor Sport Facility. Stanborough Park is discussed in the Parks section but it is also a valuable Semi-Natural Open Space and a major Green Corridor. The provision for Children and Young People is rarely provided as a sole function but usually situated in a park, as part of an Outdoor Sports Facility or even on land that is actually a Green Corridor.

It is also worth noting here that the Assessment was carried out in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 17 and as such was directed to survey and assess all open spaces in the Borough, not just Council owned land. In contrast, this Strategy takes the findings of the Assessment, but comments and proposes a strategic development of only the open spaces the Council owns and manages.

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Local Features and Demographics

Welwyn Hatfield Borough is located centrally within Hertfordshire and covers an area of approximately 130 square kilometres. It is bordered by Hertsmere to the south west, St Albans to the west, North Hertfordshire to the north and East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne to the east. The very south of the Borough borders the London Borough of Enfield. The metropolitan Green Belt covers 79% of the Borough, which is approximately 10,248 hectares. Three main rivers (the Lee, the Mimram and the Mimmshall Brook) flow through the Borough.

The Borough has two main towns, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. Welwyn Garden City is the world’s second garden city and both settlements were designated New Towns after World War II. There are 8 smaller settlements which are excluded from the Green Belt. The largest of these are Brookmans Park, Cuffley, Oaklands and Mardley Heath, Welham Green and Welwyn; the smallest are Digswell, Little Heath and Woolmer Green. Figure 1 shows the location of these 10 key settlements. Most of the open space within the Borough is located within or adjacent to these settlements.

The Borough also contains a number of small rural villages (such as Newgate Street and Essendon) and areas of sporadic or ribbon development (Swanley Bar and Bell Bar), all of which are located within the Green Belt.

Figure 1: Settlements excluded from the Green Belt

Oaklands Woolmer Green and Mardley Heath

Welwyn Digswell

Welwyn Garden Hatfield City

Welham Green Cuffley

Brookmans Little Heath Park

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In 2001, at the time of the last census, the Borough’s population was 97,5531. ONS projections indicate that the population is expected to reach 128,200 by 20212. Welwyn Hatfield has an ageing population, with 8.02% of the population over the age of 75 in 2001.

On the whole, the quality of life in the Borough is good. In terms of health, life expectancy is above average the national average and teenage pregnancy and adult smoking rates are below the national averages. The proportion of obese adults in Welwyn Hatfield is also below the national average. However, levels of physical activity amongst adults are significantly lower than the average for Hertfordshire.

1 ONS Census 2001 Crown copyright 2 ONS Revised 2006 based population projections

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SECTION 2 – STRATEGIC CONTEXT.

National Policies and Initiatives.

National Policy Context.

The recommendation that all local authorities should prepare an Open Spaces Strategy springs from the document “Green Spaces, Better Places”, a document prepared by central government aimed at disseminating the ideas behind national policies. However, National Planning Policy is contained within Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Circulars. Advice is also provided from a number of Government agencies. Planning Policy Guidance note 17 (PPG17) Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (2002) is the key document underpinning this study. Details of other influential national policies and strategies; Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 1 Delivering Sustainable Communities, Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, are outlined in Appendix 1.

PPG 17

PPG 17 sets out the Government’s policy on Sport, Recreation and Open space. The key planning objectives identified are:

 To provide a network of high quality open spaces in urban areas to enhance biodiversity and provide opportunities for sport and recreation.  To maintain a high quality of life for rural communities by ensuring they have access to a range of sport and recreational facilities.  To promote social inclusion and community cohesion.  To encourage healthy lifestyles.  To promote more sustainable development by ensuring that open space is easily accessible by walking, cycling and public transport.

In order to deliver these open space objectives PPG 17 emphasises the need for local authorities to undertake robust local assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for Open Space, Sports and Recreational Facilities. The document states that existing provision should be audited and local standards should be set to ensure that an adequate supply of high quality open space is provided.

PPG 17 Companion guide ‘Assessing Needs and Opportunities’ provides guidance on the process of undertaking a local assessment. There is particular emphasis on the need to analyse the quantity, quality and accessibility of open space.

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Regional Policies and Initiatives

Regional Policy Context

East of England Plan

The East of England Plan (2008) provides the regional planning policy framework for Welwyn Hatfield. Policy ENV 1, requires local development documents to define a multiple hierarchy of green infrastructure, which includes protected sites, nature reserves, green spaces and greenway linkages. The policy also expects local authorities to retain and provide substantial networks of green space and to respond to locally identified needs including any increased demand for recreational open space associated with planned development. Policy LA3 advocates the provision of multi-functional green space and enhanced green infrastructure between Hatfield and St Albans. Policy SS8 requires Local Development Documents to ensure that new development in or near the urban fringe contributes to enhancing the character and appearance of its recreational and/or biodiversity value, seek to provide networks of accessible green space which link the urban areas to the countryside and set targets for the provision of green infrastructure for planned urban extensions Hertfordshire Sustainable Community Strategy

The long term objectives (2008-2021) of Hertfordshire Sustainable Community Strategy include the need to improve access to the countryside, open spaces and cultural activities for recreation and health and the importance of managing land to protect biodiversity, wildlife and natural resources.

Local Strategies, Policies and Initiatives Local Policy Context Welwyn Hatfield District Plan (Adopted 2005)

Current local planning policy is contained in the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Local Plan 1991-2011. This has a number of policies relating to the provision and protection of open space. The following policies are particularly relevant:

CLT 1 Protection of Existing Leisure Facilities: The policy states that planning permission will not be granted for proposals involving the loss of any existing leisure facility unless it can be demonstrated there is no longer any demand for the facility or there is an alternative facility available to meet demand.

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OS1 Urban Open Land: Seeks to protect the Borough’s 208 sites of Urban Open Land (UOL). These sites are considered vital to the form, character and quality of the built up areas of the Borough.

OS2 Playing Pitch Provision: The policy aims to maintain the current level of playing pitch provision by avoiding the loss of pitches unless it can be demonstrated there is no longer a demand or function for the pitch or an alternative facility will be made available. In areas where there is a lack of playing pitch provision, development over 0.4 hectares will be expected to contribute towards provision of new facilities.

OS3 Play Space and Informal Open Space Provision in New Residential Development: The policy requires that any new development over 0.4ha makes a contribution to the provision of children’s play space and informal open space.

The approach to children’s play space and playing pitches in the Local Plan is based on the six acre standard established by the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA), which has recently changed its name to Fields in Trust (FIT). The six acre standard recommends the following allocations for the use of land:

Children’s Playing Space 0.6 – 0.8 hectares per 1000 Outdoor Sport population (not just number of 1.6 – 1.8 hectares children) (4 – 4.5 acres) (1.5 – 2 acres) This includes outdoor equipped This includes a specific allocation of playgrounds for children and informal 1.2 hectares per 1000 population for playing space within housing areas. pitch sports.

2.4 hectares (6 acres)

These quantitative standards are designed to help local authorities assess the adequacy of local provision. FIT also identifies accessibility standards as another way of assessing local provision. A travelling time of 20 minutes to outdoor sports facilities is considered a reasonable estimate. In terms of the provision of children’s play space, FIT categorise play equipment into Local

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Areas of Play (LAPs) for 4 to 6 year olds, Local Equipped Areas of Play (LEAPs) for 4 to 8 year olds and Neighbourhood Areas of Play (NEAPs) for 8 to 14 year olds. Figure 2 outlines the characteristics and recommended walking distances for the different play areas.

Figure 2: Characteristics and recommended walking distances of equipped play areas

Characteristics of LAPs LEAPs and NEAPs Facility Time Walking Straight line Minimum Property Characteristics Type (minute distance distance activity boundary of s) (metres) (metres) zone nearest house (metres) (metres) LAP 1 100 60 100 5 Small, low-key games area (may (Local include Area for “demonstrative” Play) play features). LEAP 5 400 240 400 20 Around 5 types of equipment with a (Locally small games area Equipped Area for Play) NEAP 15 1,000 600 1,000 30 Around 8 types of equipment, kick- (Neighbo a-bout and cycle - urhood play opportunities Equipped available Area for Play) Source: NPFA (FIT), 2001

(Fields in Trust) FIT recommends a 3 phase approach to strategic planning for outdoor play space which includes:  Adoption of the FIT minimum standard as a general measure of land required for a given population.  Completion of a detailed local assessment.  Development of local standards. FIT guidance makes it clear the local standards are needed to reflect the needs and expectations of the local community. For example, in rural areas where the population is scattered, provision may be lower and people may be prepared to travel further to outdoor playing space. OS4 Allotments: The policy states that allotments should not be lost in any area where there is a reasonable expectation of continuing long-term demand.

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Other Strategic Documents Corporate and Community Plan

The Welwyn Hatfield Alliance (the Local Strategic Partnership for Welwyn Hatfield) has agreed on a number of Community Priorities drawn together in the Borough’s Sustainable Corporate and Community Strategy 2021. During the winter months of 2008- 2009, the Alliance completed a major public consultation programme with the aim of refining existing priorities and introducing new views on the challenges faced by the Borough over the period of the strategy i.e. until 2021.

Six Community Priorities were agreed and the one pertinent to this strategy is;

Climate change, energy and natural resources.

‘Ensuring sustainability is central to future planning and decision making; ensuring new development provides a sustainable, well designed living environment supported by a physical, social and green infrastructure; protecting and enhancing the landscape, water resources, historic and environmental assets; promoting use of renewable and low carbon energy sources; and planning for a shift in travel away from car use towards public transport, walking and cycling.

The long term objectives of the Borough’s Corporate Community Plan include increasing physical activity in the over 16’s and sustaining and respecting Welwyn Hatfield’s unique character, history and quality of life.

Welwyn Hatfield Play Strategy

The Borough’s Play Strategy (2008) aims to increase the number of young people playing away from home. Consultation in early 2007 revealed a number of issues about current play provision and how people play in the Borough:  Young people are often scared to play away from home because they are worried about being bullied and there aren’t enough suitable areas and facilities.  Parents are worried about crime, accidents and traffic.  Parks and children’s play areas are the most popular places for young people to play.  A third of people think current play provision is of average quality, but 14% consider it to be below average.  All respondents asked for a choice of play activities, opportunities for sport is particularly popular.

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The audit of equipped open play areas undertaken in the “Assessment of Welwyn Hatfield’s Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation” was also used to inform the Play Strategy. The Play Strategy highlights the following conclusions from the audit:  Most of the Borough has access to quality unsupervised playground areas but there are a number of areas in which the quality is not as high. This includes some of the playgrounds within the wards of Peartree, Panshanger, Howlands, Hatfield East and South and Welwyn North.  There are a number of areas without provision. These include north Cuffley, Oaklands and Mardley Heath, north Digswell, north Welwyn, central and eastern Welwyn Garden City, western and central Hatfield, Old Hatfield and The Ryde and east and west Brookmans Park. Reflecting the audit results and the consultation feedback, the Play Strategy identified 5 targets. These include improving access to facilities, providing more free places to play and improving the quality and variety of play facilities.

Welwyn Hatfield Biodiversity Action Plan.

In April 2004 the Council adopted a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). After wide consultation at the time with our partners in local nature conservation, the document was encapsulated in the vision statement

“Welwyn Hatfield is a District where there will be a progressive increase in biological diversity which is properly cared for and treasured by all who live, work and play there.”

The aims of the BAP are:

 To implement the aims of the UK National BAP at a local level.  To focus resources upon the protection, conservation and enhancement of locally important wildlife through Action Plans.  To encourage local organisations to recognise local conservation priorities and to educate and inform local people about biodiversity issues and opportunities.  To develop closer working partnerships between local conservation groups, local businesses, local volunteers and the Council.  To encourage the inclusion of actions to enhance local biodiversity in all Council policy.  To review, evaluate and monitor the local biodiversity resource.  To ensure that the BAP is a living and long term working document.

The BAP identifies 4 key habitats that support a range of plant and animal life, these are neutral grasslands, chalk rivers, urban habitats and woodland. The plan has detailed habitat action plans that were reviewed in 2008.

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Welwyn Hatfield Walking Strategy

The Welwyn Hatfield Walking Strategy drew on facts from a variety of sources as well as a consultation exercise to present the following Vision.

A Vision for walking in Welwyn Hatfield, which is that:

 All who live in, work in or visit the district should have access to the many opportunities that walking offers.  Travel on foot for whatever reason should be safe, comfortable and convenient for all.  People should be able to enjoy the benefits of better health through being able to walk.  Opportunities for recreation and leisure on foot should be accessible to all.

Emerging from this vision are 6 objectives, one of which, “to provide a safe and attractive walking environment” is pertinent to this strategy. Also aligned with this document are the “Health Walks” the Countryside Management Service (CMS) produce for our Borough, that link with our partners in the PCT and Health Authority who promote the health benefits of walking.

Welwyn Hatfield Cycling Strategy

This a wide ranging document that discusses cycle routes, cycle parking, town centre redevelopments as well as all the environmental, economic, convenience and health benefits of cycling. The interface with this work is the fact that the Policy aimed at promoting cycling produced the Welwyn Hatfield Activity Map. This map shows all the cycling routes in the Borough as well as the locations of the open spaces.

Welwyn Garden City Leisure and Community Review

The Welwyn Garden City Leisure and Community Review was completed by consultants PMP in 2006. The study explores the need and development opportunity for indoor sports provision in Welwyn Garden City. Assessing swimming pools, fitness and leisure facilities, indoor bowls and other indoor sport provision, it concludes that there are currently no specific development needs for indoor sport facilities in the town.

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SECTION 3

PPG17 AUDIT, CONSULTATION AND VISIONING.

In 2009 the Council finalised a Borough wide Assessment of Welwyn Hatfield’s Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation study (herein after referred to as the Audit). The Audit has provided a robust baseline of data to support the development of this Open Space Strategy, to inform the development of the Local Development Framework planning policies and to assist in decision making around the disposal of open space assets.

This local audit of open spaces enables the Council and its partners to plan effectively and achieve some desirable key outcomes in line with PPG17 guidance. Please note that the Audit refers to the old ward boundaries because the evidence was collected before the May 2008 ward boundary changes.

Purpose and Scope of the Audit.

As outlined in Section 2, PPG17 states that to ensure effective planning for open space, sport and recreation, local authorities should assess their open space to measure the quantity, accessibility and quality of current provision. The Audit includes all public open space in the Borough, whether in council ownership, the ownership of other public bodies or in private ownership but available for public use. Local need has been identified through public consultation and the quantity, accessibility and quality of open space has been assessed, highlighting surplus and deficit areas.

PPG17 states that local authorities should set and apply provision standards locally. Nationally recognised standards and the results from local need assessment, determined during the Audit, were used to set local standards to assess the quantity and accessibility of local provision. Where relevant, the quality assessments have been used to inform recommended local quality features for different types of open space. These local standards have been used to assess the provision of open space by typology, ward (using pre 2008 boundary changes) and settlement area. At this stage the proposed standards are only recommendations, they will not be formal requirements unless they are adopted in policy. The suggested standards will be subject to review as open space is tested and scrutinised by public consultation as part of the local development framework process.

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Involving Communities in the Audit.

The Council undertook a consultation for this Audit between 19th February 2007 and 30th April 2007 to find out how the local residents feel about the Borough’s Open Space and how they use it. Questionnaires were sent to all major stakeholders and displays were placed in local libraries and Hatfield Housing Office.

The information gained from these consultations has been used to inform the Audit and is further used to inform this strategy.

Key Findings.

In summary, the Audit has established a series of key issues across the Borough:

 A few sites have been assessed as below average quality and these should be improved. Management plans could be used to encourage change and where applicable sites should aim to obtain Green Flag status.  Open space is valued by residents in the Borough and has an important recreational and environmental role. As such open space should be protected. If sites are lost they should be replaced by a site of the same typology and size.  New development should contribute to open space provision, by providing appropriate levels ofr open space as part of the development and making additional provision in those areas where there are existing deficits which might be exacerbated by the development.  Generally open space in the Borough is very accessible. However, in areas where it is a problem improvements could be made to enhance accessibility, e.g. new crossings, rights of way improvements.  Policies should be developed in the Local Development Framework to ensure the provision of appropriately located, accessible, safe and attractive open space. Local standards should be developed for site provision, developer contributions, enhancement of existing facilities and quality expectations.  The survey and public consultation reveal that a shortage of facilities for older children and teenagers is a key issue in the Borough. New development should therefore provide facilities on site or provide financial contributions to fund more strategic provision.  Any large scale new developments within Welwyn Hatfield should include strategic open space provision. Links with existing open space sites should be developed and maintained.

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In addition to the PPG 17 the Council has undertaken further customer surveys (May and June 2009) to gather views on a range of topics that relate to the management and enjoyment of the Council’s rural open spaces. The questionnaire is set out in appendix 2.

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SECTION 4 – TYPES OF OPEN SPACE AND ASSOCIATED ACTIONS.

Section 4 is the main part of the strategy and sets out and examines the following for each type of open space.

 A clear definition of the type of open space  A statement on the current situation and the strategic importance of the space to the Borough  A summary of what consultation revealed  Recommended quantity and accessibility standard  Quality

It must be noted here that the information offered for these 5 points is taken from the Audit and so relates to all open space in the Borough. It is not possible to isolate information that relates directly to Council owned sites from the Audit but for many typologies we do have information gathered from other surveys which we have added into these sections. With regard to the purpose of this open space strategy, the following three points below form the central point of this strategy.

 A clear vision  Identified areas for improvement and key ambitions  A summary plan of what needs doing over the next 10 years and who the key partners might be.

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Parks and Gardens

Definition

This type of Open Space includes urban parks, country parks and historic formal gardens that provide opportunities for various informal recreation and community events. Parks are included where it is their primary function. This therefore excludes recreation grounds where outdoor sports facility is the primary function. Parks tend to be larger than amenity open spaces, with wider catchment areas.

Parks and Gardens offer many benefits including the provision of a sense of place for local communities, ecological, educational and health benefits, helping to address social inclusion issues and providing an integral part of the Boroughs green infrastructure.

Current Position

There are 11 parks and gardens in Welwyn Hatfield, accounting for an area of 1,404 hectares, which equates to 14.4 ha for every 1000 people. Parks and Gardens have an important role within the Borough, providing passive and active recreation opportunities for Welwyn Hatfield residents and visitors from outside the Borough. The Parks and Gardens range in size, from the historic park Ayot Place (20ha) to Hatfield House park, which covers nearly 600 ha. Stanborough Park is an important urban park in the Borough, providing formal and informal recreation opportunities, including a boating lake.

What did Consultation Reveal about Parks and Gardens?

Public consultation feedback undertaken during the Audit revealed that Parks and Gardens are the second most frequently visited area of open space, with 75% of residents visiting more than once a month. Interestingly, opinion is equally divided about the provision of parks within the Borough. The survey revealed that 44% of people were satisfied with current provision and 44% thought more parks were needed. However, when asked about future provision, most people considered that there will be a shortage of parks and gardens. Comments revealed that people are happy to travel to strategic facilities such as Stanborough park and Hatfield House Park.

Stanborough Park was identified as an area of open space that people would visit more frequently than their local facilities, so the site clearly has Borough wide significance. In most of the parks and gardens access is limited to the rights of way, but the three parks owned by public bodies have free public access. Hatfield House Park is free for many Hatfield residents but there is an entry fee for other people.

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Over a four day period in July 2008 a survey was undertaken to gather views at Stanborough Park and King George V playing field in Welwyn Garden City. The questionnaire and the analysis of the findings are set out in the Play Startegy. In Stanborough Park there was a total of 303 respondants and 151 from King George V Playing field. At Stanborough Park, the majority of results were obtained on Wednesday (33%) and Saturday (49%) in the afternoon (55%). In King George V playing field the majority of results were obtained on Monday (33%) and Tuesday (36%) in the afternoon (67%).

A summary of the survey revealed that most people visit the park regularly if not frequently, especially in winter, and most visit the park for less than 2 hours.

In Stanborough park the majority of visitors travel by car although 21% walk. In contrast the majority of visitors walk to King George V and 41% travel by car. The travel time for a visitor to Stanborough was on average, 15-30 minutes, whereas to King George V, the majority took 5-10 minutes. Interestingly, most visitors to Stanborough visit as part of a group as opposed to King George, where most visit alone.

In Stanborough 55% of respondents said that they visited the park for a walk, 50% to get fresh air and 34% to relax or to see the birds and wildlife. In King George 30% went to feed the birds/ducks, 29% for a family outing and 28% to walk the dog.

In Stanborough 55% of respondents rate the park as good, 29% as very good, and only 1% said anything negative (very poor). In King George 57% rated the park as very good, 41% as good, and only 1% said anything negative (poor). When asked what visitors overall impression of the park was, in Stanborough 65% were satisfied and only 1% were dissatisfied and in King George, 64% were very satisfied and only 1% were dissatisfied.

The importance of the availability of information about the history and wildlife of the sites had a mixed response with 46% at Stanborough Park stating it was important, 14% were neutral and 1% thought it was unimportant. At King George Playing Field 32% thought it was important, 33% were neutral, and 6% thought it was unimportant.

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Setting Standards for Parks and Gardens in the Borough.

The setting of local standards for Parks and Gardens in the Borough takes account of current provision, site assessments and consultation on local needs.

A Quantity and Accessibility Standard for Parks and Gardens – PPG17.

Welwyn Hatfield has a high provision of parks and gardens. The Borough has 14.4 ha per 1000 population. In line with public consultation responses it seems important to maintain this current level of provison Therefore the following local quantity standard for Welwyn Hatfield has been set:

Quantity Standard for Parks and Gardens

14.40 hectares per 1000 population

There are 5 wards with provision significantly above the set recommended local quantitative standard. This is primarily due to the three large parks/gardens of Brockett Hall, Hatfield House Park and North Mymms Park, but even without these large areas of open space there are 4.0 ha of parks and gardens for every 1000 people.

Figure 3 shows that the parks and gardens are spread across the Borough, but there are several areas where people cannot access a park or garden within 1 km. Equally, there is an accessibility deficit in Welwyn North and in the south east of the Borough, where residents of Northaw, Cuffley and Newgate Street do not have access to a park or garden. In Welwyn Garden City, residents in many of the wards are further than 1 km from Stanborough Park. However, the results from the consultation reveal that people are willing to travel further to Stanborough Park because of its range of facilities. Therefore, the park is a resource for the whole town and indeed for the wider Borough. In addition, in the south and west of the town there are two strategic outdoor sports facilities (King George V Recreation Ground and Moneyhole Lane Playing Fields) which also provide opportunities for informal recreation and community events. Therefore, in reality access to a park or garden is not a problem in Welwyn Garden City.

On the basis of these results it is important that the provision of parks and gardens is not reduced. Where possible, barriers to access should be addressed, so that more people can reach a park within 1 km. The following recommended Accessibility Standard for Parks and Gardens has been set:

Accessibility Standard for Parks and Gardens

1 km/ 15 minute walk

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Figure 3: Distribution of Parks and Gardens and recommended distance thresholds

Park or Garden

Distance threshold

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Quality

With the exception of three parks that were inaccessible to the surveyor, the parks and gardens were assessed on the basis of maintenance and the provision of facilities (e.g. toilets and children’s play area). The standard in the Borough is high as all were classified as good or very good, with Brocket Hall and Stanborough Park receiving the highest scores. Stanborough Park has held a Green Flag award for quality for many years and in Summer 2009 King George V playing field achieved the same recognition. Although for the purposes of this strategy King George V playing field is classified in the Outdoor Sports Facilities Typology. The quality of some of the parks was reduced by the lack of provision of toilets and dogs bins.

A vision for Parks and Gardens in the Borough.

The following vision has been developed utilising the findings of the Audit and by collating views taken at a number of Consultation evenings which focused on the environment and invited members of the public to attend public meetings with members and officers of the Council, these were held during Summer 2008. A vision for Parks and Gardens

A welcoming, clean, safe and well maintained open space providing a wide and varied range of organised and informal leisure, recreational and enriched play opportunities and events for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

This vision is broadly in line with National Green Flag Award criteria. These criteria are generally accepted throughout the country as the benchmark for all parks to aspire to in the future.

Areas for Improvement

The objectives for Stanborough Park, the only Council owned Park and Garden in the Borough, are presented below in conjunction with Finesse Leisure:  Build on the success of the Green Flag awards, one of which has been held on this site since 1998. The criteria for Green Flag applications required a 10 year management plan.  Develop a 10 year management plan with the HMWT who have a lease on the Stanborough reed marsh.  Ensure the success of the replanting of the two car parks.  Act on views of annual users audit.  Continue to support full range of uses; angling club, sailing club and model boat club.  Develop health walks in tandem with partners over health agenda.

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Natural and Semi-Natural Green Space

Definition

Natural/Semi-Natural Green Spaces are grasslands (e.g. commons and meadows) and areas of woodland which are either matured or semi-matured. They have recreational value, but their primary function is to protect and enhance biodiversity.

Current Position

The Audit identifies 24 publicly accessible Natural Green Spaces, however with reference to Council owned spaces, the typologies are mixed. The Borough recognises and manages 22 sites in its ownership as areas of Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space. These sites are fairly evenly spread throughout the Borough. Both Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City were planned around existing natural features with the result that the urban areas include a number of small woodlands, copses and ponds within their boundaries.

Looking at the 22 areas identified, there are 7 sites over 5 hectares, they are;

Danesbury 25.5 ha Mardley Heath 40.0 ha Northaw Great Wood 120.0 ha Sherrardspark Wood 86.0 ha St Johns Valley 6.6 ha Templewood Vale 6.2 ha The Commons 13.0 ha

Together the 22 sites cover 324 hectares of the Borough.

Current Position - Strategic Importance of Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space

The master plans for both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield sought to retain natural features that fell within the planned towns. Most of these areas remain today, for instance Skips Grove and Howe Dell in Hatfield, Vineyard Dell and St Johns Valley in Welwyn Garden City. The history of Sherrardspark Wood is well documented, a fine woodland on the Cowper estate, its preservation as a public woodland was a feature of a campaign in the 1930’s resulting in the formation of a Society, The Sherrardspark Wood Wardens that still exists today.

Sherrardspark Wood and Northaw Great Wood, in the south of the Borough, are both formally designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), with some 206 hectares of nationally important woodland. Both sites are also Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) and the Borough has 5 more LNR’s one of which is leased to the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT). In total the

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Borough has 316.05 hectares that it manages as natural or semi-natural open space primarily with nature conservation in mind.

What did Consultation Reveal about Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space?

Welwyn Hatfield’s natural green space is clearly valued by its residents as it is the most frequently visited type of open space, with 87% of people visiting more than once a month. Spring and Summer are the most popular times of year to visit and respondents stay at least an hour. Generally the quality of natural and semi-natural green space was praised, however a number of people criticised the muddy paths.

In May and June 2009 a Borough wide survey of our 5 Local Nature Reserves was carried out. 478 Questionnaires were mailed out to members of the Borough Panel and a number of attendees from various Council’s committee meetings (See Appendix 2). Of these 308 responses (64%) were received and analysed. Surveys were also carried out at three of our Local Nature Reserves, Sherrardspark Woods, Northaw Great Wood and Mardley Heath by their corresponding Friends Group. These site surveys were carried out on two separate days of which one day was on a weekend. The combined data from both the on site surveys and postal survey (753 respondents) were analysed and tabulated and are included in Appendix 2.

Of the 753 respondents, 66% visit Sherrardspark Wood, 44% visit Northaw Great Wood, 33% visit Mardley Heath, 21% visit The Commons and 15% visit Danesbury. 57% of people (out of 596 respondents) visited the woods twice a week or more. The four most popular reasons people visit the woods are to walk the dog, to relax and contemplate, to exercise and to observe the wildlife respectively. Results also highlighted that motorbikes (24%) and dumping (28%) are the main problems of unauthorised use observed in the woods. People feel safe in the woods with 97% of 717 people having never thought about the issue, feeling safe or very safe. Only 3% of people feel unsafe.

A Quantity and Accessibility Standard for Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space in the Borough – PPG 17 Audit.

Only publicly accessible areas of Natural and Semi-Natural Green Space have been included in this assessment, because private areas offer no leisure or recreational value to local residents. Therefore, most of the sites are owned and managed by public bodies, such as Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (e.g. Sherrardspark Wood), Hertfordshire County Council (e.g. Tollgate New Woodland) Parish Councils (e.g. Home Wood, Cuffley Parish Council), Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust (e.g. Lemsford Springs) and The Woodland Trust (Gobions Woods). Sites with public rights of way cutting across them have also been included. Private Sites with informal public access (i.e. not agreed formally through schemes such at the Forestry Commission’s Walkers

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Welcome agreement) have been excluded because the landowner can withdraw permission at any time.

There is a considerable amount of Natural and Semi-Natural Green Space in the Borough, with 6.29 hectares per 1000 population. At over 100 hectares, Northaw Great Wood is the largest site in the Borough. As such Northaw ward has exceptionally high provision of natural green space. Other large sites in the Borough include Mardley Heath and Sherrardspark wood. The remaining natural green spaces are distributed fairly evenly across the Borough, with the larger areas concentrated in the northern and southern areas of the Borough. There are 5 sites smaller than 15 hectares in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield (excluding Sherrardspark Wood), but not surprisingly most areas of Natural Green Space are in the rural areas of the Borough. Indeed all the wards below the quantitative provision standard are urban. The recommended local quantity standard for Welwyn Hatfield has been set to:

Quantity Standard for Natural / Semi-Natural Green Space

6.29 hectares per 1000 population

Figure 4 shows that although Welwyn Hatfield does not have a 500ha site, the distribution of the smaller sites means that based on the recommended local standards, most residents in the Borough have access to Natural/Semi- Natural Green Space.

However, the public consultation indicates that many people (50%) prefer to walk to areas of open space, so local provision is important. The distribution of the smaller areas of natural green space mean that Cuffley, Northaw, east and north west Welwyn Garden City and east and west Hatfield have good local access. However, central Welwyn Garden City, northern and central Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Little Heath are all further than 1km from an area of natural green space. However, the impact in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield is alleviated by the extensive number of amenity green spaces, which often provide opportunities for biodiversity and recreation. Equally, residents of Brookmans Park and Little Heath have good access to Gobions Wood, which is categorised as a park but shares many of the natural qualities and features of natural green space. The recommended accessibility standard for natural / semi-natural green space is:

Accessibility Standard for Natural / Semi-Natural Green Space

 5km to a 100+ hectare site (12 minutes drive)  2km to a 20-100 hectare site (5 minutes drive)  1km to at least a 2 hectare site (15 minutes walk)

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Figure 4: Distribution of natural green spaces and recommended distance thresholds

Natural and semi-natural green space sites Distance thresholds

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Quality

The quality of the Natural Green Space was not formally assessed. However, the consultation revealed that people were happy with the management and maintenance of the Borough’s green space. Although, a number of people did highlight the need for more paths as the areas can get muddy.

The quality of the sites with respect to their ecology is assessed by national designation. Sherrardspark Woods and Northaw Great Wood are both Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) and the sites listed below are all Local Nature Reserves.

 The Commons  Howe Dell and Oxleys Wood  Danesbury and Singlers Marsh  Stanborough Reed Marsh  Mardley Heath  Sherrardspark Wood  Northaw Great Wood

A vision for Natural and Semi-Natural Open Space in the Borough.

To ensure that the Borough-wide hierarchy of sites provide a balance between public access, visual amenity and protection of local wildlife and its habitat and enhance local biodiversity, welcome visitors and support education opportunities

We are well placed to fulfil a number of the aims of this vision having worked for many years to recognise and enhance the more ecologically important sites by submitting them for grant aid. The following sites have grant aid that amounts to 80% of the value of work detailed in mandatory management plans submitted as part of the application for the grant:

Danesbury & Singlers Marsh Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is currently in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme which expires in 2013.

The Commons LNR is in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme which expires in 2014.

Woodland management grants are available through the Forestry Commission, but there is a pre-application stage to the scheme which requires applicants to submit all their woodland holdings to be certified as satisfactory against a standard laid down in the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). This is a stringent pre-application stage, compliance with which is externally audited every year. We have had certification through UKWAS since 2005 and with this status have successfully applied for grant aid, again worth 80% of approved management work for the following sites.

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Sherrardspark Woods and Northaw Great Wood SSSI’s through their individual management plans. All other woodlands (Howe Dell, Oxleys, Skips Grove, Hazel Grove, Chantry Copse, Roe Dell, Mardley Health) are within the Welwyn Hatfield Small Woods management plan. All UKWAS management plans expire in 2025.

In addition, on our behalf the Countryside Management Service (CMS) are submitting an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for access and interpretation works at Mardley Heath.

All of the Council’s 8 designated Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) have dedicated Friends groups which extend to over 100 volunteers who offer their time to help manage the sites. The Council is keen to support these groups and regularly receives expressions of interest from people interested in joining. We are also having success with monitoring BAP species plans, the BAP targets are due to be reviewed in the coming months.

We are aware of anti-social pressures on all our natural sites. In particular during the Summer months there are extensive problems with parties, barbeques, often involving large numbers of people, whilst all year sites suffer from unauthorised bike riding, dumping of green waste and dog fouling. This places tensions between those parts of the community who wish to use those areas intensively and the need to manage the areas as a significant rural asset.

The Government has recently introduced a new National Indicator (NI 197) to measure the performance of local authorities for biodiversity by assessing the implementation of active conservation management of local sites. Performance will be calculated by local authorities as a proportion of all sites where active conservation management has taken place up to 5 years prior to the reporting date.

Areas for Improvement

Taking account of the current provision and distribution of Natural and Semi- Natural land, the views of local people and the standards we have already reached, 10 key objectives have been developed:

 Address the accessibility issues identified within the Access and Interpretation Audit carried out by the Countryside Management Service.  Review the management plans of sites that are considered to be of high quality with good accessibility and well used, to ensure that they remain highly valued sites. Engage with the friends groups for these sites to recruit their help with this objective.  Work with our partners to review the management plans of sites that are considered to be of a lower standard. In particular review enforcement of dumping of green waste which is a contributory factor to lowering the standard.  Undertake a review of the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

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 Establish a series of action plans for the species and habitats featured in the revised BAP  Secure external funding for capital and revenue improvements  Further develop the Friends Groups including a review of the Borough’s obligations towards the groups with respect to insurance, health and safety, and risk assessment.  Establish links with other woodland owners through the Forestry Commission to market woodland green waste to the bio fuel industry.  Develop a dog policy to establish a pattern and frequency of demand and the requirement to deal with dog mess  Ensure that the objectives in the Play Strategy are accommodated within those sites that are suitable for such use.

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Green Corridors

Definition

Green Corridors include paths along river banks and streams, cycle ways and rights of way, including ancient lanes where the primary function is to provide opportunities for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding for both leisure and travel purposes. A Green Corridor could link housing, education and employment areas and different types of open space. It facilitates sustainable forms of transport and creates opportunities for wildlife migration. This strategy focuses on the important urban corridors and public rights of way associated primarily with travel.

Current Position

Green Corridors provide important environmental and recreational linkages throughout the Borough. As they are primarily ‘movement’ corridors for people and wildlife it is not appropriate to analyse provision against quantitative and accessibility standards. Some corridors are located within urban areas, connecting housing, education and employment areas and different type of open space. For example, Monks Walk links Sherrardspark Wood and Digswell Park. Other, more strategic networks such as the Alban Way connect the built up areas with the surrounding countryside. Two large green corridors in the Borough follow the floodplains of the River Lea (Lea Valley Walk) and the River Mimram. Green Corridors have a high biodiversity value and provide opportunities for people to walk or cycle to work or for leisure purposes.

What did Consultation Reveal about Green Corridors?

There were no questions during consultation relating to demand for Green Corridors because as movement corridors they serve a different function from other types of open space. People do not visit them in the same way they use other facilities so questions about visit frequency and level of provision would not reflect their true biodiversity value and movement value.

A Quantity and Accessibility Standard for Green Corridors in the Borough – PPG17 Audit.

Planning Guidance states that the need for Green Corridors arises from the need to promote environmentally sustainable forms of transport such as walking and cycling in urban areas. This means that there is no sensible way of stating a quantity standard just as there is no way of having a standard for the proportion of land in an area which it will be desirable to allocate from roads.

No quantity standard has therefore been set for this type of space as it is seen that Green Corridors are demand led. However, the Local Development Framework and all Hertfordshire County plans executed through the Countryside Management Service (CMS), both seek to protect, enhance and

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extend a network of Green Links to connect existing settlements to the surrounding countryside. In addition, the WH Cycling Strategy 2003-2008 seeks to extend the cycle network within both towns and between settlements to provide safe, convenient and continuous routes for all age groups.

Accessibility to Green Corridors.

It is not realistic to set catchments for the Green Corridors as they cannot be easily influenced through planning policy and implementation and are opportunity led rather than demand led.

Figure 5 illustrates that there are 17 Green Gorridors in the Borough, which amounts to 200.78 hectares. Most of these areas of open space also have public rights of way running through them such as Monks Walk and Stanborough, but some are just wildlife corridors such as the wide verge along Knightsfield. All the corridors are within, or link to the main urban areas, with 12 in Welwyn Garden City and 5 in Hatfield (one on the edge of the town in Welham Green ward). The Green Corridors contribute to the character and amenity of the new towns and are an essential part of the green infrastructure. Therefore it is important that the Green Corridors are protected and enhanced. There is potential to improve the green route network in the Borough. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan prioritises improving the quality of existing routes and providing new links and routes.

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Figure 5: Distribution of green corridors

Green corridors

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Quality

Given the key biodiversity function of green corridors, the study does not formally assess their quality as this would not adequately represent their local value. The consultation indicated that residents are happy with the green corridors. However, litter was cited as a common problem.

A vision for Green Corridors in the Borough

The following vision has been developed for the Borough.

A Vision for Green Corridors

Corridors should be safe, litter free and well maintained in natural and semi-natural settings with formal rights of way linking major open spaces and accessible to walkers. Accessible routes should provide stopping and resting for walkers whilst inaccessible routes with vegetative cover will encourage the movement of wildlife between major open spaces.

This vision is in keeping with the aims and targets outlined in the Welwyn Hatfield Cycling Strategy, most particularly in the element of the plan that refers to the Welwyn Hatfield Activities Map that was published in 2001 and revised in 2006. The Primary aims of this publication, which shows all cycle routes in the Borough and the locations of all the open spaces, is to inform the public where places of interest and cycle routes are and to aid healthy exercise.

Areas for improvement for Council owned Green Corridors

The survey of users comments conducted through the Audit process revealed that litter caused concern. The Council is responsible for keeping the all open spaces, including green corridors clean and free of litter. The standards that need to be met are governed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This concentrates on achieving set levels of cleanliness in specified time limits rather than enforcing rigid schedules.

Welwyn Hatfield Council has a legal duty to remove litter from land for which it is responsible, this duty includes streets, pedestrianised areas, civic spaces and parks, in fact all the Council owned land that this Strategy encompasses.

The council cleans the open spaces to standards set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The more frequently the site is used, the more litter will accumulate and therefore it will be litter picked/swept more often. Last year (2006/07) almost 5,500 tonnes of street sweepings, litter and fly tips were collected from across the Borough. Generally speaking, civic spaces and shopping parades are visited daily, while the remainder of the Borough is swept on a 13 week cycle.

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The objectives for improvement are to:

 Ensure that Green Corridors are litter picked on a 13 week cycle.  Deal quickly with all reported fly tips

 Maintain semi-natural tree and shrub cover and where appropriate take the opportunity to manage grassland sympathetically for wildlife.

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Amenity Green Space.

Definition

Amenity Green Spaces include village greens, landscaped green space in and around housing and informal recreation spaces. Given their size and nature they tend to have local catchments, providing opportunities for passive recreation and informal children’s play for residents in close proximity. Amenity Green Spaces do not always need to be used for informal recreation purposes, they can also enhance the character or appearance of an area. It is also worth noting the contribution made by private gardens, both front and back, to the quality of the urban landscape across the Borough. In part, the strength of this contribution lies in the planned history of both towns. Many of the amenity green spaces are designated as urban open land in the Core Strategy.

Current Position

There is a large provision of Amenity Green Space across both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield that is owned and maintained by the Council. The Audit identified 166 Amenity Green Spaces and of these only 22 are not owned and maintained by the Borough. This publicly owned land will be a large percentage of the 1.36ha of amenity space per thousand population available in Welwyn Hatfield.

The history of both towns as planned settlements means that the provision of open space in both town centres and residential areas was an integral part and perhaps even a dominant element of the design process. As a result there is a very large public estate, comprising not just grass and trees but substantial shrubberies and rose beds that requires a big commitment of time and budget to maintain. This is currently managed with our partner Serco.

In 1962 the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Development Corporations produced a booklet entitled Landscaping Two Towns. In the forward, the General Manager Mr J.E. McComb made the following comment

“The illustrations in this book, some dated 1927, some 1955, and the rest 1962, show early standards of landscaping in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield and how quickly vegetation matures. We believe that the present day Standards compare favourably with the past, profit having been taken from past experience. The finished picture in a further twenty-eight years should be remarkable”

Mr McComb was looking forward to 1990 in his preface when he commented on how quickly vegetation matures and how he predicted when it would be at its zenith. In fact now, in 2009, some vegetation, notably the trees, are at their peak in some parts of the Borough, declining in others, and in some roads in the oldest part of Welwyn Garden City, they have been felled due to decline in old age and are now replanted. Regeneration of all the landscaping, including shrubberies and rose beds needs to be part of this Open Space Strategy,

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reflecting the objectives already approved for rejuvenating the tree cover as set out in the Tree Strategy.

What did Consultation Reveal about Amenity Green Space?

Amenity Green Space is the third most frequently visited open space, particularly in the summer, so it is clearly valued by local residents. Visits tend to be relatively short with most people staying less than an hour.

Quantity and Accessibility Standards for Amenity Green Space – PPG 17 Audit.

Welwyn Hatfield has a relatively high provision of amenity green space, with 1.36ha of amenity space per thousand population. This figure reflects the concentration of amenity green space in WGC and Hatfield. The seven wards in the Borough that currently have provision above the recommended standard are all within the towns and show that the design principles for both Garden Cities and New Towns were mindful of the benefits of open space within new developments. Elsewhere in the Borough, distribution is uneven. The northern and southern villages areas have significant accessibility deficits. Residents in Woolmer Green, Oaklands and Mardley Heath, south Cuffley, west Brookmans Park and west Little Heath do not have access to an amenity space within 400m. The recommended Quantity Standard for Amenity Green Space is as follows:

Quantity Standard for Amenity Green Space

1.36 hectares per 1000 population

The following Accessibility Standard is recommended:

Accessibility Standard for Amenity Green Space

400 metres to amenity green spaces (5 minutes walk)

Quality The quality of Amenity Green Spaces was not formally assessed, but general observations about the sites were noted. The quality of amenity green spaces varied, but most were well maintained. However, litter was cited as a recurring problem on the sites across the Borough.

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A Vision for Amenity Green Space.

The following vision has been developed for the Borough.

A Vision for Amenity Green Space

A safe, clean, well-maintained and accessible space with landscape features designed and regenerated to enhance the appearance of the local environment, create a spacious outlook, encourage safe informal play and through good design mitigate the effects of such play on those living nearby.

The vision reflects the importance attached to these spaces as areas for informal play and general recreation, alongside the contribution that they make to the character of the area, nature conservation and green breaks in the built environment. In addition, it acknowledges the history of both planned towns and the fact that whole neighbourhoods created at one time will decline and require regeneration en masse.

The safe, clean and well maintained elements of the vision relates to all amenity green space within the Borough regardless of size or location.

Areas for Improvement.

Taking account of the current provision and distribution of Amenity Green Space, the views of local people and the standards of provision set out previously, the following three key objectives are proposed

 Objective 1. Consider establishing a range of maintenance regimes which reflect the hierarchy of sites, reviewing the current status of prestige areas within the current grounds maintenance contract.

 Objective 2. Undertake an infrastructure renewal audit to establish funding required to rejuvenate planting areas in Amenity Green Spaces

 Objective 3. Explore the possibility of developing community management plans for those sites requiring rejuvenating to ensure that their strategic importance as local green space is recognised and valued

Objective 1.

The current Grounds Maintenance Contract acknowledges prestige areas throughout the Borough which enhances the specification for grass, hedge, herbaceous and shrub maintenance in certain areas, most notably both town centres. The aim of this objective is to review the need for such a distinction and perhaps extend the boundaries to include areas the Audit has revealed to justify an enhanced specification.

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Objective 2.

Without doubt the Council needs not only its maintenance programme, that is embodied in the Grounds Maintenance Contract, currently tendered and won by Serco, but also a regeneration strategy to follow the Landscaping Two Towns document in evaluating and predicting how the Borough will look, in say, 2030. The Tree Strategy looks forward 20 years with objectives for street tree renewal. Although the Council has a regeneration as a strand in the grounds maintenance contract (shrubs, roses, tree belts and town centre planting), it is timely to draw all this work together and set it out as an objective to be achieved over a given time frame.

All the soft landscaping that the Council maintains is measured and mapped. We have 198,671 m2 of shrubs and roses across the Borough, a large proportion of this area being throughout the residential areas. The life span of a shrubbery or a more formal rose bed is not more than 15 years. Certain species will flourish beyond this time but as the principle aim of the planting is its amenity value, old, straggly and invariable woody shrubs can start to look very tired. The aim of this objective is to set out a regeneration programme.

Objective 3.

The clearance and replanting of beds is a relatively easy process, covered within the Grounds Maintenance contract. Also included is the subsequent weeding of newly planted beds over the first 3 years, however, establishing regenerated planting on any scale will stretch the available resources. Without significant investment in manpower to tackle a surge in weed growth, that is the inevitable result of undertaking rejuvenation, much good work and indeed the plants themselves will be lost.

Serco support a successful cohort of Community Champions, recruited from the local community to help with amongst other things, litter picks. Elsewhere in the Council, and noted in this Strategy, the Council supports voluntary effort to help care for urban trees and rural open spaces. The Friends groups supporting sites such as Northaw Great Wood and Howe Dell in Hatfield have a strong affection for the site they volunteer for and tackle a wide range of jobs, some very onerous tasks, with willingness and enthusiasm.

The aim of this objective is to explore the possibility of encouraging residents groups to work together with the Council and our partner Serco, and enrol in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Neighbourhood Awards Scheme. This scheme is described by the RHS below;

Community gardening is a wonderful way of getting to know your neighbours, doing your bit for the environment, brightening up where you live and having a more active and healthier life.

The RHS Neighbourhood Awards are open to all community-led gardening projects or groups from a group of neighbours transforming their street or creating a community allotment. If you are part of a small community group or a few individuals just starting to

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sow the seeds for a cleaner, greener local environment, then the RHS Neighbourhood Awards are for you. The Neighbourhood Awards invite everyone, no matter where they live, to get together and make a difference to their community through gardening.

In 2008 there were over 600 active Neighbourhood Awards projects in cities, towns and villages across the UK, and each of these communities was recognised for their accomplishments. On top of the recognition they receive, these groups have reported the following benefits of participation in the campaign:

 Safer communities  Making friends with neighbours they never knew  Transforming rundown areas  Creating wonderful spaces for everyone to enjoy  Increased local pride.

The aims of the RHS scheme reflect many of the Council’s Corporate aims. Supporting it in certain key green spaces across the Borough could see the regeneration of amenity spaces with more enjoyable, colourful plantings that the local people have designed and helped to establish. In addition, review of all the planted areas may reveal that some are no longer required. When the housing areas were laid out, they rose from open fields with little in the way of greenery to offset many roads of newly built houses. Now with mature trees and well established front gardens a reduction in the number of shrubberies and huge improvement in the quality of those remaining could be achieved with the understanding and agreement of the local residents.

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Outdoor Sports Facilities

Definition

Outdoor Sports Facilities include natural or artificial surfaces that are used for sport and recreation. Examples include playing pitches, bowling greens and golf courses where the primary purpose is participation in outdoor sports. These can be either publicly or privately owned.

Current Position.

The 82 Outdoor Sports Facilities in the Borough cover a large area and provide numerous opportunities for active recreation. This amounts to a total of 207 hectares, but increases to 665 ha if the 8 golf courses are included.

What did Consultation Reveal about Outdoor Sports Facilities? Outdoor Sports Facilities tend to be visited most between once or twice a month, although over half of respondents have never visited a facility. This perhaps reflects the fact that only approximately 30% of respondents are sports club/team members. Most visits tend to last at least an hour and respondents are willing to travel further afield to larger, more strategic sports facilities (e.g. Hertfordshire Sports Village). Generally, respondents are fairly mixed about playing pitch provision, with over 40% satisfied with current provision and 30% suggesting there is a lack of pitches. However, over half of respondents think there will be a lack of playing fields in the future. A number of comments were made about the lack of mid week training facilities in the winter, the cost of facilities and the loss of playing pitches to housing developments. Whilst consultation is a useful indication of local perception, to a certain extent provision of this type of open space is demand led. There is an emerging Sport Facility Strategy commissioned by the Borough from Sport England.

A Quantity and Accessibility Standard for Outdoor Sports Facilities – PPG17

Fields in Trust propose a national standard of 1.6-1.8 hectares of Outdoor Sports Facilities per 1000 population, which incorporates public and private facilities. There are currently 2.12 hectares per 1000 population in the Borough. Golf courses have been excluded from calculations due to their size because they tend to skew figures. However, if private facilities are excluded, the provision (1.34 ha per 1000 population) of community facilities (free access, pay and play and private hire) is lower than the recommended local standard. A key reason for the deficiency is that nearly 90% of school sports facilities are private so are not accessible to the public.

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There is a model, called the Playing Pitch Model that when applied to the Borough shows that generally current provision is good, but there are small shortages for some sports pitches. By 2021, population increases mean there could be more pitch shortages. However, the Playing Pitch Model does not include private school facilities and these could be a significant resource if community access agreements are secured in the future. As a result of the public consultation and the findings of the Playing Pitch Model it is recommended that the standard reflects the current level of provision of 2.12 hectares per 1000 population. Additional demand can partly be met through the use of school facilities but the use of this standard will ensure the council provide additional sporting facilities to meet future needs in 2021. This approach is consistent with the council’s long term objective in the Borough’s Corporate and Community Plan, to increase physical activity in the over 16s. Therefore the recommended standard for the provision of outdoor sports facilities is :

Quantity Standard for Outdoor Sports Facilities

2.12 hectares of outdoor sports facilities per 1000 population

There is no definitive national or local accessibility standards for this open space typology. As such local distance thresholds were taken from respondents’ answers to the “you and your open space consultation”, which asked “how long in minutes are you willing to travel to reach an open space, outdoor sport, or recreational facility?” Most people are willing to travel between 10 and 20 minutes to an open space site. As such, the “mid point” of 15 minutes has been taken forward as an acceptable bench mark for the time people are willing to travel to a local facility. Using research for a study into average walking speed (knoblauch et al, 1997) it is estimated that a 15 minute walk accounts for a distance of approximately 1 km.

The following accessibility standard is recommended:

Accessibility Standard for Outdoor Sports Facilities

1 km to Outdoor Sports Facilities (15 minutes walk)

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Quality

As the sites are used for a range of different sports there was variation in quality due to overuse of some facilities and in some cases poor grounds maintenance. The surveyor noticed a range of criteria that were not met by a number of the sites. Figure 6 shows the number of sites which have been classed in each scoring group;

Figure 6: Quality assessment of provision for outdoor sports facilities

Classification Number of sites in this classification Very Good 2 Good 11 Average 43 Poor 3 Very Poor 0 Unclassified 23 Total Number of sites 82

Nearly 72% of the outdoor sports facilities surveyed in the Borough are classified as average quality or above. However, a fairly high proportion of sites (28%) are excluded from the audit due to problems with access, mainly at the school sites. Only 3% of the audited outdoor sports facilities are classed as below average, so the quality of facilities is not a particular problem. Only 2 sites, King George V Playing Fields, Welwyn Garden City and Roe Hill

Playing Fields, Hatfield are classified as good. Both sites were easy to find, had well maintained grass coverage and had good facilities including pavilions available for hire and a range of pitches. Out of the two sites King George V Playing Fields scored highest in terms of quality. The site was easily accessible from roads and paths and the provision of basic facilities (e.g. seats and dog bins) was good.

The lowest scoring site was poor quality because it was difficult to access. To reach the site from the car park, visitors have to cross an area of woodland, with no clear path. There was also no information available about the site before the visit and few additional facilities.

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A Vision for Outdoor Sports Facilities. The following vision has been developed for the Borough:

A Vision for Outdoor Sports Facilities in Welwyn Hatfield

Good quality managed facilities set out on safe, clean, well-maintained and accessible sites offering healthy lifestyle opportunities. Sports playing surfaces should be level, well drained and managed in accordance with national and regional standards. Ancillary facilities where supplied including changing facilities, toilets and car parking should be fit for purpose and where possible made available for wider community use. Opportunities for managing such facilities in partnership with local clubs should be encouraged and legacy opportunities through the London 2012 Olympics should be embraced.

This vision is broadly in line with the National Playing Fields Association benchmarks for this type of open space, the Green Flag criteria and Sport England guidelines.

Areas for Improvement.

The Council has commissioned Sport England to prepare a Sport Facility Strategy. This is a key area of work which needs to be completed before the objectives from this part of the strategy can be incorporated into this document. This will be provided as an appendix once the work has been completed.

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Children and Young People

Provision for Children and/or Teenagers

Definition

Provision for children and teenagers includes facilities which are primarily used by 0 to 16 year olds. This includes play areas, teenage shelters, skateboard parks, basket ball hoops, football goals (but not a full pitch). Some Amenity Green Spaces also provide informal provision for childrens play.

Current Position

The study identifies 67 sites which provide formal play provision for children and young people in the Borough. Of these 67 sites, the Council manages 35 of these. This amounts to a total area of 5.68 hectares, which equates to 0.06 hectares per thousand population. Within this total provision, there are 0.04 hectares of Local Areas for Play (LAPs) and Local Equipped Areas for Play (LEAPs) per 1000 population for children aged between 3 and 10 and the 9 Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play (NEAPs) account for 0.02 hectares per 1000 population for children and teenagers over 11.

What did Consultation Reveal about Provisions for Children and Young People?

Children’s play areas, including teenage shelters and games areas are visited fairly frequently but for less than an hour at a time. The length of time children and young people spent at facilities increased during the summer months probably reflecting the school holidays. Of all the typologies of open space respondents identified the provision of children’s play areas most problematic. Over 44% of people stated there was currently not enough provision and this under-provision would get worse in the future. Equally the lack of specific provision for teenagers (e.g. skate parks) was criticised and comments revealed a demand for further provision of facilities suitable for older children and teenagers.

Notably only 1% of respondents were under 16, so most feedback comes from parents and grandparents. However, responses are consistent with feedback from the play strategy consultation which was specifically targeted at young people.

Quantity and Accessibility Standards – PPG17 Audit The provision for children and teenagers varies across the Borough, but most of the wards are significantly below the recommended quantitative standard. Hollybush is the only ward which meets the per 1000 population standard, primarily due to the size of King George V Playing Fields. Hatfield South and Welham Green also have a relatively high level of formal play provision.

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Sherrards, Peartree, Howlands and Hatfield West wards have the lowest (under 0.03ha) provision.3 The recommended Quantity Standard for Children and Young People’s Play Provision is as follows:

Quantity Standard for Children and Young People’s Play Provision

Between 0.2 and 0.3 hectares of provision for children and/or teenagers per 1000 population

The provision of NEAPs for older children and teenagers is more spatially concentrated than LAPs and LEAPs. 8 wards have a NEAP, so the remaining 9 wards have no specific provision for older children and teenagers.

However, when the recommended accessibility standards are applied, Figure 7 shows that most residents have access to a local playground. But, there are a number of neighbourhoods without any play areas:

 North Cuffley  Oaklands and Mardley Heath  North Digswell  North Welwyn  Central and eastern Welwyn Garden City  Western and central Hatfield  Old Hatfield and The Ryde  East and West Brookmans Park

The areas of deficiency appear to be spread across the Borough, not concentrated in one ward. However, there are a number of key trends. The LAPs are concentrated in Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City and these towns also have 5 smaller play areas (below 100m2) within housing estates. This suggests that the other settlements in the Borough have a shortage of play areas for young children. However, in practice LEAPs, which are distributed far more evenly across the Borough, often include some equipment that is suitable for younger children.

A key concern is the current provision for older children and teenagers. There are only 9 NEAPs in the Borough and 3 of these are concentrated in southern Welwyn Garden City, so many residents across the Borough do not have access to facilities suitable for young people (Figure 7). The teenage shelter at Welwyn Playing Fields is categorised as a NEAP4, but generally most of the NEAPs include a range of facilities (e.g. play equipment, basketball hoop and a kick about area). King George V Park in Welwyn Garden City has the

3 Please note that the Audit refers to the old ward boundaries because the evidence was collected before the May 2008 ward boundary changes.

4Please note that the two equipped play areas on Welwyn Playing Fields are categorised as LEAPs.

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largest range of equipment and includes the only skate park and freely accessible multi-use games area. Notably, there are a lack of teenage facilities in Hatfield. The town’s two NEAPs have Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA’s) but these are pay and play and used by local sports teams, so are not freely accessible to teenagers. The consultation responses revealed a strong demand for more provision for teenagers.

It should, however, also be noted that play provision also needs to be set in the context of other categories of facilities in specific areas. The recommended Accessibility Standards for Children and Young People’s Play Provision are as follows:

Accessibility Standard for Children and Young People’s Play Provision

 Local Area of Play (LAP) – 100m  Local Equipped Areas of Play – 400m  Neighbourhood Area of Play – 1000m

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Figure 7: Distribution of provision for children and/or teenagers and recommended distance thresholds

LAP and 60m distance threshold

LEAP and 240m distance threshold

NEAP and 600m distance threshold

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Quality

The majority of sites in the Borough (67%) are classified as average, good or very good. The best sites scored high in terms of safety, variety of equipment and maintenance. Unfortunately, 24% of sites were deemed poor or very poor because of a poor range of play, a lack of safety, age of equipment and/or vandalism. Problems with quality appears to be spatially concentrated: all of the 16 poor / very poor sites are within the ‘Northern Villages’ wards, Howlands, Panshanger, Peartree, Haldens, Hatfield South and Hatfield East. The poor quality can be attributed to a number of factors, but the age of equipment is a particular problem. Some sites have had no new equipment in the last 10 years. Quality could be improved by increasing the range and quality of equipment.

A Vision for Play for Children and Young People

The following vision has been developed for the Borough:

A Vision for the Provision for Children and Young People

An accessible site providing children and young people with play or other diversionary opportunities within a safe, clean and well-maintained environment. The site must also cater for parents and guardians needs and through good design mitigate the effects of such play on those living nearby.

In addition to the vision stated above the Welwyn Hatfield Alliance’s Community Plan and the Corporate Plan of the Borough Council makes the following commitment:

“To be a place where people live together in healthy, safe and strong communities, a thriving economy and a pleasant sustainable environment.”

Areas for Improvement.

There is an adopted Play Strategy 2007 that has objectives valid up 2012 that are set out below;

 Ensure that children and young people are able to choose and access more free-time play opportunities and activities.  Adopt a policy that encourages positive attitudes towards play and free- time activities.  Provide information, education and support in promoting the value of play and free-time activities throughout the community, including parents, organisations, children and young people.  Improve the quality, availability and accessibility of a wide variety of play provision and free-time activities.

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 Work in partnership with service providers such as highways, planners and transport to help provide safer routes to access play and free-time provision.  Continually review, consult and develop both our play strategy and re:play partnership.

 Provide facilities for disabled children, which are accessible to all.

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Civic Spaces

Definition

Civic Spaces include places such as market squares which provide a much needed open space of promotions, markets and civic events.

Current Position

There are 4 Civic Spaces in the Borough, 3 in Hatfield and 1 in Welwyn Garden City. The Civic Spaces only cover 1.3 ha but offer opportunities for passive recreation in the commercial areas of the town. Located in the town centres (Figure 8) they have Borough wide significance and are therefore also used for community events and activities. Given that Civic Spaces are designed for use by residents across the Borough, quantitative and accessibility thresholds were not applied.

What did Consultation Reveal about Civic Spaces? The ‘You and Your Open Space’ consultation (Appendix 3) in 2007 indicated that they are used frequently by residents, with 63% stating that they visit Civic Spaces more than once a month. People seem generally happy with the provision of Civic Spaces, over 40% said there were enough and only 12% thought there is an under-provision in the Borough. On this basis it is recommended that the current level of Civic Space provision in town centres is retained, except in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that loss of the Civic Space will benefit the current uses in the town centre.

Quantity and Accessibility Standards- PPG17 The companion guide to PPG17 advises that the function of Civic Spaces means there is no value in assessing their provision in quantitative terms.

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Figure 8: Distribution of civic spaces

Civic Spaces

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Quality

Two of the Civic Spaces were classified as average and two were classified as good. All the spaces include a combination of hard and soft landscaping and provide basic facilities, such as seating. White Lion Square in Hatfield and the area outside the Howard Centre in Welwyn Garden City received the highest scores. However, quality was restricted by a lack of events in the squares and feelings of enclosure.

A Vision for Civic Spaces

The following vision has been developed for the Borough:

A Vision for Civic Spaces

A town centre that is attractive, well designed, with excellent access and transport links, a good retail offer and amenities, as well as a high quality environment and leisure activities will be a vibrant town centre. Vibrant towns will be a hub for economic growth and will attract people from far and wide.

To enhance the vitality and viability of our existing town centres we need to realise it’s potential. The high street, shopping centre, market places and open space are the areas that define a town centre, giving it a sense of identity and vibrancy.

Creating lively and interesting town centres is a challenge at the best of times but with the economic down turn some creative and innovate solutions will be required to maintain momentum.

Specialist events such as markets, festivals and community activities already play a significant part in ensuring town centres thrive.

Last year we delivered 53 promotional event days in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield town centres to encourage more visitors to the retail spaces. The lack of adequate event space does impact on the variety and number activities that take place in the centres.

Although we have some attractive Civic Spaces, which are delightful for residents and visitors to enjoy, very few of the spaces provide adequate event space. The area outside the Howard Centre is a large space that could be an appealing market place, but due to the design, market stalls and other activities have to be placed informally throughout the site which makes it extremely difficulty to integrate those temporary markets into the town centre. For example the Anniversary Gardens whilst providing a high visual amenity is difficult to use for activities.

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White Lion square is one of the better sites as it provides a large open space but sadly it isn’t very attractive and has very little footfall.

Areas for Improvement.

Increased competition from competing centres, presents a huge threat to our town centres. Most of our neighbouring towns have purpose build market squares or a more flexible space, large enough, with sufficient access to be able to host markets and other specialist events.

1, Clearly identify spaces within the two main town centres which have

 Sufficient vehicle access to allow event organisers, market traders to unload and load vehicles.

 Well designed and maintained areas, play a vital role in creating an attractive and welcoming environment for all ages to enjoy.

 Allow for the provision of play equipment in order to provides a free activity for children to enjoy whilst parents visit the centre. .

2. To maximise the use of those spaces identified in 1 above through the provision and hosting of town centre events in order to increase vitality in our town centres.

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Allotments and Community Gardens

Definition

These are areas which are available for rent from the Parish, Town or Borough Councils or other organisations which may be used for gardening, growing fruit and vegetables as well as getting physical activity on a plot near your home. These sites are protected under Policy 0S4 of the WH District Plan.

This type of space includes all forms of allotments and community gardens where the primary purpose is to provide opportunities for people to grow their own produce or actively pursue gardening as part of the long term promotion of sustainability, health and social inclusion.

Current Position

There are currently 47 allotments within the Borough with a total area of 13 hectares (ha). Most sites are managed by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, but 3 sites are run by Parish Councils and 2 sites are managed by the Longcroft Allotment Association.

What did Consultation Reveal about Allotments? Although 81% of people have never visited an allotment, those that do tend to visit more than twice a week and stay for a long time (3 – 4 hours). Most respondents did not indicate if current allotment provision was adequate but 23% considered that there was a shortfall of allotments compared to only 11% of people who felt there are enough allotment plots in the Borough. A number of allotment providers noted an increasing demand for allotments and growth in their waiting lists.

A Quantity and Accessibility Standard for allotments in the Borough – PPG17

The recommended local quantitative standard is 0.13ha of allotments per 1000 population. As a whole the Borough meets this standard, suggesting current provision is sufficient. However, taking account of proposed population increases, there will be an under-provision by 2021 if no more allotments are developed.

Quantity Standard for Allotments

0.13 hectares of allotments per 1000 population

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There is uneven distribution of allotments across the Borough. Whilst many of the wards within Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield have over 0.13ha of allotments per 1000 people, Welwyn North, Northaw and Brookmans Park have no provision. This spatial pattern is further reflected in the number of people who have access to an allotment within 1 km of their home. Figure 9 illustrates that most residential areas meet this threshold, but accessibility is restricted in the south of the Borough. Residents of Cuffley, Northaw, Brookmans Park and Little Heath have no access to allotments within a 1km walk of their homes. As such, there are particular quantity and accessibility deficiencies in the ‘southern villages' area. Northeast Welwyn Garden City, northeast and northwest Hatfield and Welwyn North ward also have deficiencies. For example, residents from Oaklands and Mardley Heath do not have good access to an allotment.

Accessibility Standard for Allotments

1 km to Allotments (15 minutes walk)

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Figure 9: Distribution of allotments and recommended distance thresholds

Allotment sites

Distance thresholds

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Quality

The lower demand in Hatfield can partly be attributed to the site quality because the allotments with particularly high numbers of vacant plots are either poorly maintained or have problems with access. For example, the site with the highest vacancy rate, Haseldine Meadows, is classified as very poor quality. However, the quality of the site clearly isn’t the only influence on demand as many of the poor quality sites have waiting lists. Only 14% of allotments in the Borough are poor or very poor quality, generally most allotments are of average quality.

Twenty seven percent of sites are good or very good quality, with Digswell Nursery Allotment Gardens receiving the highest score for its provision of facilities (e.g. kitchen, toilets) and high level of maintenance. The high quality of this allotment site has influenced demand as the site has the largest waiting list. In general, to ensure all allotments are of average quality or above, improvements need to be made to access, maintenance and the provision of basic facilities (bin, water).

Since the Audit was undertaken, allotment demand has significantly increased so that the provision of three more sites to satisfy the demand were identified and planned for opening during 2009 in the Corporate Action Plan 2009 – 2010.

A Vision for Allotments in Welwyn Hatfield

The following vision for allotments in contained within the emerging Allotment Policy.

A vision for Allotments in the Borough.

To promote the role of allotments so that they could make a positive and significant contribution to the physical, mental, social and environmental well being of the people in the Borough. In so doing they will prove attractive to the widest possible spectrum of the community, irrespective of age, income, creed and ability.

The emerging Allotment Policy identifies objectives that would provide an overall statement against which to measure any future developments. The Allotment Policy will have Action Plans to guide progress over the next five years and identify a wider role for allotments in the corporate planning process, particularly in relation to health and environmental issues.

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Areas for improvement.

Taking account of the current provision and distribution of allotments, the demand and wider brief, the following objectives have been developed.

 Ensure as far as is reasonably possible demand for allotments is met.  Promote all the benefits of keeping an allotment more widely across the Borough.  Ensure through the application of the Allotment policy that the management of allotments is maximised in order to satisfy demand.

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Cemeteries and Churchyards

Definition

Cemeteries and graveyards offer areas for peaceful reflection. Cemeteries are separate from a church whereas graveyards are associated with a church.

Current Position

There are 13 cemeteries and churchyards in the Borough with a total area of 9.62 hectares. The 2 main sites within the Borough are Hatfield Hyde in Welwyn Garden City and the District Cemetery in Hatfield. Provision is currently adequate, but the aging population in the Borough means demand may increase in the future.

Five churchyards at Ayot St Lawrence, Ayot St Peter, St. Ethereldas, Hatfield, St Thomas a Becket, Northaw and St Lukes, Hatfield are closed churchyards where the maintenance of the following features, trees, hedges, paths, walls and grassed areas has passed via the Diocesan Office to the Council

What did Consultation Reveal about Outdoor Sports Facilities?

The ‘You and Your Open Space’ consultation in 2007 suggests that cemeteries and churchyards are the most infrequently visited open spaces. However, cemeteries and churchyards have a valuable amenity purpose as they provide important places for passive recreation and quiet reflection.

Quantity and Accessibility Standards – PPG17

As the primary function of cemeteries and churchyards are as a place for burial they have not been assessed against quantitative or accessibility standards.

Quality

All the cemeteries and churchyards in Welwyn Hatfield have been classified as average quality or above. The appearance of all the sites scored highly but quality was damaged by parking and ambient noise issues. The District Cemetery (Southway) in Hatfield received the highest score because of the facilities available and the amount of information available on this site.

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A Vision for Cemeteries and Churchyards in Welwyn Hatfield

The following vision has been developed by the Borough.

A Vision for Cemeteries and Churchyards

Pleasant, clean, safe accessible and well maintained sites offering opportunities for quiet contemplation and reflection. Open burial grounds should have the capacity to incorporate green burials within wider long term burial requirements and should offer a range of memorial opportunities including plaques, seating and planting.

This vision recognises the primary function of cemeteries and churchyards. However, it is further recognised that such spaces can provide additional benefit to local communities as an opportunity to observe wildlife.

The provision of burial space at the District Cemetery is sufficient for the span of this strategy.

Areas for improvement

Objective 1 To evaluate the primary needs of cemetery visitors to facilitate a pleasant, clean, safe, accessible and well maintained space.

The evaluation of visitor requirements is imperative because they are the foremost audience using the cemeteries. User requirements change periodically and the facilitation of the space needs to reflect those changes while maintaining the integral burial process.

Objective 2 To provide open space that enhances wildlife and biodiversity.

There is a great opportunity to provide open spaces, particularly in the District Cemetery, that enhance the wildlife and biodiversity within their boundaries. There are cultivated and uncultivated areas in the cemeteries that can be improved by planting or replanting trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. Each enhancement will be part of a long-term management process to facilitate greener spaces.

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Appendix 1

National policy and strategies

National planning policy is contained within Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Circulars. Advice is also provided from a number of Government agencies. In addition to PPG 17 Open space, outdoor sport and recreation there are a number of influential documents detailed below, although this list is not exhaustive.

Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 1 Delivering Sustainable Communities

PPS1 sets out national policy on the delivery of sustainable development. It states that sustainable development is now the core principle underpinning the planning system. Planning authorities should ensure that development plans and decisions made in planning applications contribute to the delivery of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Paragraph 20 encourages consideration of environmental issues such as the protection of the wider countryside and the impact of development on landscape quality; the conservation and enhancement of wildlife species and habitats and the promotion of biodiversity; the need to improve the built and natural environment in and around urban areas and rural settlements. This includes the provision of good quality open space; the conservation of soil quality; and the preservation and enhancement of built and archaeological heritage.

Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation

PPS 9 seeks to protect and enhance biodiversity and geological resources. The document recognises that our natural wildlife heritage is not confined just to the designated sites but is found in many urban areas, where it is an important resource.

Green Spaces, Better Places (2006)

The final report of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce highlights the problematic decline in the quality of many urban parks and green spaces and states that urgent action is needed if they are to deliver their many benefits. The report sets out the need for a strategic policy framework within which decision-makers should operate.

It recommends that local authorities should:  Need to involve all sectors of the community in the planning and delivery of open space  Encourage public and private sector partnership work  develop and implement a green space strategy;  carry out design reviews for failing or unsatisfactory spaces;

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 prepare a management plan for every major park, groups of smaller parks and types of open space such as allotments;  Undertake a Best Value review of their park and green space services  Invest in capital and revenue funding, but support this with non-financial improvements such as training and skill development for managers, employees and volunteers.

Green Flag Awards

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

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Appendix 2

LOCAL NATURE RESERVES QUESTIONNAIRE We are pleased to see you here today and would be grateful if you could spare a few moments answering our questionnaire. The results form this survey will be used to inform the Council’s forthcoming Open Spaces Strategy.

1. Where else do you go?

Northaw Great Wood Sherrardspark wood Danesbury

Mardley Heath The Commons other (please indicate)

2. Which would you visit again?

Northaw Great Wood Sherrardspark wood The Commons

Danesbury Mardley Heath None of them

3. Which of the above woods/open spaces would you not visit again and why not?

4. If you have never visited one of the woods named above, why not?

Did not know about site Too far to travel

Other reason (please indicate)

5. How often do you visit the woods/open spaces?

Almost every day Once or twice a week Once a month

Once every six months Once a year Less often First visit

6. How do you travel to them?

Walk Bicycle Motorcycle Car Bus Other

7. How far do you travel to them?

Under 1 mile 1 to 3 miles 4 to 8 miles 9 to 15 miles

16 to 20 miles Over 20 miles

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8. What time of day do you normally visit?

No particular time Before 9.00am 9.00am to 1.00pm

1.00 pm to dusk After School

9. How long do you spend in the woods/open spaces?

Less than 30 min 30 min to 1 hour 1 to 2 hours

2 to 4 hours More than 4 hours

10. Why do you come to the woods/open spaces? (Please tick as many boxes as apply)

To take a short cut To relax/contemplate To walk the dog

To take part in events Observe the wildlife To exercise

Family day out For educational purposes Photography

Other (please state)

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How do you rate the following for this site (where applicable)?

Very Very Don’t Good Fair Poor Good Poor Know Ease of getting to

and using Level of

information General

Appearance Wildlife value

Toilets

Car Parking

Disabled Facilities

Dog Bin provision Litter Bin

provision Seating

Path maintenance

Signs & directions

Control of dogs

12. What other facilities or services would you like to see here?

13. Are you aware of people doing the following?

Using Building Dumping Riding horses Having Motorbikes Camps where they BBQ’s should not

14. How effective is the council in dealing with these problems?

Very effective Effective Not effective Don’t know

15. Do you use the internet for information on your woods/open spaces? Yes No

If you answered no please go to Q17

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16. What do you think about the information on the Council’s website?

Very good Good Fair Poor Don’t Know

17. How do you know about this place and other woods/open spaces you visit?

Library Council offices Internet

Other (Please Specify)

18. Are you a member of the following organisations or groups?

National Trust Woodlands Trust RSPB Wildlife Trust

Walking Club or Association Cycling Club Riding Club

Running Club Other

19. Are you aware that the woods/open spaces have Friends groups?

Yes No

20. Would you be interested in getting involved?

Yes No Possibly in the future

21. How safe do you feel in the woods/open spaces you use?

Very safe Safe Never thought about it Unsafe

Very unsafe

22. Is the wood/open space you use your closest wood/open space?

Yes No Don’t know

If not please give the name of your closest wood/open space

23. How satisfied or dissatisfied are you overall with the sites provided by the Borough Council?

Very satisfied Fairly satisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Fairly dissatisfied Very dissatisfied

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About You To help us monitor fair access to consultation we would be grateful if you could complete the following questions about yourself. Any personal information gathered in this survey will be treated as confidential. No personal information will be passed to a third party.

24. Postcode

25. Gender Male female

26. What is your age?

0 to 16 17 to 25 26 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59

60 to 74 75 to 84 Over 85 Do not wish to answer

27. We operate within the framework of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) which defines Disability as: “A physical or mental impairment which has substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities” Do you consider yourself to be disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act?

Yes No Do not wish to Answer

28. What is your ethnic origin? White English Welsh Scottish Do not wish to answer

Black or Black British

African Caribbean Any other black background

Dual or multiple Heritage White and Asian White and Black African

White and Black Caribbean

Any other dual/ multiple heritage background (Please Specify)

Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

Any other Asian background (Please Specify)

Chinese or other ethnic group Chinese Any other ethnic background (Please Specify)

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Appendix 3 Example Questionnaire

You and Your Open Space, Sport and Recreation

Q1. What types of open space, sport, and recreation facilities have you visited in the past 12 months? And how often do you visit it? (please tick)

Never 1 or 2 times a month 3 or 4 times a month More than once a week Parks and Gardens Outdoor Sports Facilities Children’s Play Areas Allotment Gardens Cemeteries Civic Space Natural Green Spaces Amenity Green Space

Q2. How long do you normally stay at the open space, sport or recreational facilities at different times of the year? (please tick)

Don’t Visit 0-30 mins 30 mins - 1 hr 1-2 hrs 3 - 4 Hrs

Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring Summer Autumn Winter Parks and

Gardens Outdoor Sports Facilities Children’s

Play Areas Allotment

Gardens Cemeteries Civic Space Natural Green Spaces Amenity Green Space

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Q3. How do you usually travel to the open space, sport or recreation facilities you use? (Please tick)

On By By By By Cycle Other (Please Specify) Foot Bus Train Motorcycle Taxi

Q4. Where do you normally travel from to reach your most regularly visited open space, sport or recreational facility? (Please tick)

Home Work School/College Shops Other (please specify)

Q5. How long (in minutes) are you willing to travel to reach an open space, sport or recreational facility? (Please tick)

Less than 5 5- 10 minutes 10-15 minutes 15-20 minutes 25+ minutes minutes

Q6. How would you rate the design and appearance of the facilities you use? (Please tick) (Please make any comments in the box below)

Don’t Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Know

Q7. How would you rate the standard of cleanliness and maintenance of the facilities you use? (Please tick) (Please make any comments in the box below)

Don’t Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Know

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Q8. How easy is it for you to get around the open space, sport or recreational facility? (Please tick) (Please make any comments in the box below)

Don’t Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Know

Q9. Which are the nearest open space, sport and recreation facilities to your home? (Please tick)

Open Space …………………………………………. Outdoor Sports Facilities …………………………………………. Recreational Facility ………………………………………….

Q10. Are these the facilities you use most often? (Please tick)

Yes No

If no, please state below which facilities you use most often.

Open Space …………………………………………… Outdoor Sports Facilities …………………………………………… Recreation Facility ……………………………………………

Q11. Do you think there are currently enough…. (Please tick) (Please put any comments in the box below)

Too Not Don’t No Enough many Enough Know Opinion Playing Fields Parks Children’s Play Areas Allotments Civic Spaces

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Q12.In the future do you think there will be enough… (Please tick) (Please put any comments in the box below)

Too Not Don’t No Enough many Enough Know Opinion Playing Fields Parks Children’s Play Areas Allotments Civic Spaces

Q13. Overall, how satisfied are you with the open spaces, sport and recreational facilities within the borough? (Please tick) (Please make any comments in the box below)

Neither Very Very No Don’t Satisfied satisfied or Dissatisfied satisfied Dissatisfied Opinion Know dissatisfied

Q14. Are you a member of any clubs or organisations that meet at one of your local open spaces, sport or recreational facilities? (Please tick)

Yes No

If yes, please state which clubs below

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Q15. We would like to know how much you agree with the following statements (please tick only one option per statement) (please tick)

Strongly Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree or Disagree Disagree Strongly disagree No Opinion Don’t Know Where I live there is an open space sport or recreational facility nearby I am happy with the facilities that are available at my nearest facility I can easily get to other open space, sports or recreation facilities if I need to My local facilities help me to keep fit and healthy Generally, I feel safe when I visit my local facilities Generally, the facilities I use are clean and well maintained It is easy to find out about local facilities and the services they provide The local facilities are in need of refurbishment Improving footpaths and cycle ways between open spaces, sport and recreation facilities is important The facilities around my home make this a nice place to live There are not enough facilities in my area I would recommend visiting my local facilities to a friend outside the borough

Thank you for taking part in the survey

If you have any questions please call 01707 357000 or e-mail [email protected]

th Please return by the 30 April 2007 to: If you wish to be added to our database and Planning Policy Unit hear about future consultation about this or any Welwyn Hatfield Council other planning matter please put your contact Council Offices details in section below Title………… First Name……………... The Campus Welwyn Garden City Surname…………………………………… Hertfordshire Address…………………………………… AL8 6AE ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… Or at the above e-mail address ……………………………………………… Or fax it to 01707 357285 Post Code………………………………….

Organisation ………………………………. Phone……………………………………… 75 Email………………………………………..